Keith Horne shot a third consecutive round of 68 on Sunday to secure the inaugural Reignwood Legends Championship on the Legends Tour by one shot at 12-under-par.
The South African overcame a two-shot deficit at the start of the round to lead for much of the day and close out his second Legends Tour victory on the circuit’s first visit to mainland China, with David Drysdale, Matt Cort and Emanuele Canonica finishing in a tie for second.
A front nine of 33 that included four birdies for Horne, coupled with four bogeys on the outward half for overnight leader Simon Griffiths, allowed the nine-time Sunshine Tour winner to hit the front. Horne led going into the final round of the OFX Irish Legends in May, only to finish tied-second behind compatriot James Kingston, who triumphed with five birdies in the last six holes. But he wasn’t to be denied at Reignwood Pine Valley as red numbers at the two par-fives on the back nine – the 13th and 16th – gave him a two-shot cushion standing on the tee of the par-four 18th.
There have been plenty of double-bogeys and worse on the tricky finishing hole this week, and the result was still in doubt when his drive found the fairway bunker. He sensibly chose to lay-up short of the lake that protects the front of the green, and his third shot found the heart of the putting surface. Horne lagged his par putt just inches from the hole, allowing him the simplest of tap-ins to claim the trophy in front of hundreds of cheering Chinese fans.
“It feels fantastic,” said the champion. “I realised the course suited me, so I just stuck to my guns and had a mission. I was leading in Ireland and I got caught up too much watching the guys I was playing with, and James came through at the end, so I was very wary of that. I certainly didn’t take my foot off the pedal, because I had no idea what everybody was doing behind me, and it’s the kind of golf course where if you do get going, you can go quite low. I had a goal to get to 14-under and I just tried to focus on that.
“I drove the ball well the whole week, and I continued to drive it well today. I was never really in trouble. The greens were relatively receptive, so when you’re going in with short irons the whole time, you have to make mistakes to make bogeys. The par-fives were all reachable for me, so I was patient and tried to pick up birdies when I could and take advantage of the par-fives.
“The crowds have been fantastic and really enthusiastic all week. They really enjoyed us being here. They’ve been vocal and extremely friendly, and it’s been a pleasure to play in front of them.
“All of my supporters and family back home have been amazing. Their support has been invaluable. It means a lot to me, and it certainly inspires me.”
Horne got his maiden Legends Tour victory in Zambia last year on the way to finishing sixth on the Order of Merit, and his second title boosts him to fourth on this season’s points list. As well as this title and his runner-up finish at Mount Juliet, he has also been tied-ninth at the Staysure Marbella Legends and the Barbados Legends hosted by Ian Woosnam.
